Dodd confident, but noncommittal

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT), Fred Lucas THE NEWS-TIMES

Published 1:00 am, Sunday, May 28, 2006

President Dodd?

It is unlikely but not impossible, political experts said just days after Connecticut's senior U.S. senator,
Christopher Dodd
, said he is forming an exploratory committee to look into running for president in 2008.
If Dodd takes the plunge, he would likely enter a crowded field with some built-in disadvantages - most notably that he is from New England and has a liberal voting record.
But Dodd is hoping that does do not outweigh his advantages as a consensus builder at a time when America is deeply divided along conservative-red and liberal-blue states, and when Congress is highly partisan.
"After 25 years in the Senate, I know how to build coalitions successfully," Dodd said in an interview. "What's lacking is civility. That is the most important issue.
"If we don't have the ability to work together, the political leadership can't accomplish anything."
The potential of a Dodd candidacy, however, has been met with cynicism, considering political heavyweights like New York Sen.

Hillary Clinton
, Massachusetts Sen.
John Kerry
, New Mexico Gov.
Bill Richardson
, and former Virginia Gov.
Mark Warner
are all expected to run, among others.
"At (Dodd's) age, he might consider it his last opportunity if he wants it," said
Larry Sabato
, director of the
Center for Politics
at the
University of Virginia
and a national expert on presidential campaigns.
But he doubts that Dodd has a chance in the race.
"Where is his niche? How can he compete with Hillary Clinton in the Northeast, and then the Southern candidates and Western candidates," Sabato said.
"Strange things happen in American politics, but it would be very, very strange for Chris Dodd to emerge as the Democratic nominee for president."
Dodd said he would make a decision early next year after exploring whether he can garner enough money and support to win the race. But he would have to raise $20 to $30 million immediately to compete with Clinton, the early presumed Democratic front-runner.
Dodd has $2 million in his war chest, compared to Clinton, who already has $20 million.
Raising money should not be a problem, said Dodd, elected to his fourth Senate term in 2004.
"I was the chairman of the

Democratic National Committee
," Dodd said. "I was almost elected Democratic leader in the Senate. I know governors and mayors across the country. Family groups, Save the Children and other groups all know me."
Dodd narrowly lost a race for Senate minority leader to South Dakota Sen.
Tom Daschle
after the 1994 elections. Dodd was named co-chairman of the Democratic National Committee and helped run the committee the year President Bill Clinton won a decisive reelection victory.
"I think people in Connecticut may not realize how well-known Sen. Dodd is across the country," said former Democratic U.S. Rep.
James Maloney
of Danbury. "He is well-regarded and popular in the Senate. I'm delighted about how strong a candidate he could be."
Still, others echo doubts about raising enough money to compete with Democratic candidates with far greater name recognition.
"I don't think he has the deep pockets to do that in comparison with Hillary Clinton," said
Chris Kukk
, a political science professor at
Western Connecticut State University
. "But
Howard Dean
showed us in 2004 you can raise a lot of money on the Web."
Also, as discontent grows with the Republican president and
Republican Congress
, Kukk said, the election of a Northeastern liberal is not as untenable as before. "A Northeastern liberal could do it this time, after a Republican-controlled executive branch and legislative branch have left us stuck in the mud."
What's more, some say, Dodd is strong on the stump. That temporarily propelled Dean to front-runner status in the last election. And Democrats need a spokesman, Maloney said.
"There is a hunger for someone who can effectively deliver a message," Maloney said. "We have the right ideas on our side. It's just that the Bushites and the right wing are better at propaganda."
It's his speaking ability that will cause him to get noticed if he runs, said
Ken Dautrich
, a political science professor at the
University of Connecticut
.
"Much of the reaction to Chris Dodd has been why would he do this? I don't agree. He is the most passionate speaker in the Senate," Dautrich said. "He is certainly superior to Hillary Clinton or John Kerry."
Dodd has confidence for the race but is not committing to anything yet.
"I have thought about this a number of times," Dodd said. "How would my family react? Could I raise the money? Will I have enough support? I don't know until I try."